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Sunday, 27 January 2013
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Chhota Imambara



Chhota Imambara, also known as Hussainabad Imambara is an imposing monument located in the city of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. It was built by Muhammad Ali Shah, The third Nawab of Avadh in 1838, it was to serve as his own mausoleum. It is also known as the Palace of Lights because of its decorations during special festivals.
The chandeliers used to decorate the interior of this building was brought from Belgium. Thousands of laborers worked on the project to gain famine relief.
It has a gilded white dome and several turrets and minarets. The tombs of Muhammad Ali Shah and other members of his family are inside the imambara. The walls are decorated with Arabic calligraphy.
Outside the imambara is the watch tower called Satkhanda or tower of seven storeys. Though it is called Satkhanda, it has only four storeys, as the construction of the tower was abandoned when Ali Shah died. Satkhanda was built between 1837-1842 in the time of Mohammad Ali Shah. He wanted to make it the same as Qutub Minar of Delhi and the leaning tower of Pisa. Its main purpose is lunar observation.


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